Flexible mat.



T. G. MOPHERSON- FLEXIBLE MAT.

APPLIOATIONN FILED JAN. so, 1913.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

5 E s s E N W w ATTORNEY THOMAS C. MoPI-IEBSON, 0F BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO KEYSTONE WIRE MA'ITING 00., 0F BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs C. MCPHER- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Flexible Mat, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in mats.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of mats, and to provide a simple and inexpensive flexible mat of strong and durable construction, designed for use on wet and other undesirable surfaces, and adapted to be readily turned or rolled up to facilitate cleaning beneath it or for enabling the mat to be easily and conveniently handled and for various other purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mat of this character, composed of spaced slats and equipped with means adapted to flexibly connect the same, and capable of enabling a broken or otherwise defective slat to be easily and quickly removed and replaced by a perfect slat without disturbing the other slats.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a plan view of a flexible mat, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of one corner of the mat. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one end of the slat. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the wire hinge element-s. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a hinge element, constructed of sheet metal.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the mat comprises in its construction spaced parallel slats 1, constructed of wood, or any other suitable material and provided at their ends with horizontal slots 2, disposed longitudinally of the slats and extending entirely through the same, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The slats are provided at the ends of the slots with oppositely tapered end walls forming projections 3, adapted to be engaged by terminal portions 4 of resilient hinge elements, constructed of wire or other suitable material, bent back and forth to form substantially parallel transverse portions 5 and connecting end portions or bends 6. The hinge element is of a length to ext-end from one end of the slot to the other and is slightly compressed in introducing it into the slot and to engage the terminal portions 4: with the interiorly arranged projections 3 with the slats. The terminal portions 4 are angularly bent and when the resilient hinge element is compressed and placed in the slot, the said terminal portions engage the projections 3 at opposite sides thereof, whereby the hinge element is interlocked with the slat and held in position in the slot until the slats are assembled and connected. The hinge elements are of a greater width than the slats and extend entirely across the same and project from opposite sides thereof forming a series of individual eyes at each side of each slat at each of the slots. The resilient hinge elements of the end slats project only from the inner sides thereof, the loops orbends at the outer side of such hinge elements terminating short of the outer edges of the end slats and located within the slats thereof and secured to the said end slats by pins 7 or other suitable fastening devices, which pierce the end slats from the underside thereof and engage the loops or bends of the hinge elements. The end slats are also preferably provided with metallic face plates 8, constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material and covering the slots at the outer side thereof. The plates 8 are secured to the outer side edges of the end slats by tacks 9, or other suitable fasten- -ing means, but the outer portions of the slots from the hinge elements.

of the end slats may be closed in any other suitable manner to exclude the dust and dirt therefrom and to present a neat finish.

The eyes formed by the projecting portions of the loops or bends are engaged by coiled springs 10, interposed between the slats and having their coils passing through and linked into the individual eyes of the hinge elements. The coiled springs are engaged with the eyes by threading or screW- 1 ing them into the same, and their end coils 11 are then closed by bending them inwardly into the plane of the end coils forming terminal rings. This will prevent the coils from becoming accidentally disengaged When, however, it is desired to remove a broken or otherwise defective slat, the end coils may be readily opened by a pair of pliers or other tool. This will enable the coiled springs to be readily screwed out of engagement with the coiled springs, which with the projecting eyes, hinge the slats together and form a flexible mat, adapted to be rolled up for cleaning beneath the mat or for compactly arranging the same for packing or storing or for any other purpose.

The flexible mat is designed principally for use in damp or wet places, and upon other undesirable surfaces, and the resilient hinge elements and the springs of the slats I are constructed of galvanized material or otherwise rendered rust proof.

The mat affords a perfect tread surface and elevates the feet above the surface on which it is placed, and maybe advantageously employed wherever dry feet and ease of tread are a consideration. The mat will lie flat and keep its shape at all times, and the coiled springs at the opposite sides of the slats are right and left hand in order to cause the slats in the rolling up of the mat to move alternately in opposite directions through the action of the eyes on the coiled springs and thereby prevent the mat from rolling up on a bias and maintaining the ends of the mat square or flat when the mat is rolled.

Instead of forming the opposite series of eyes of wire, a hinge element 13 constructed of sheet metal, or other suitable material may be employed, as illustrated in F ig. 6

of the drawing. The hinge element 13, which consists of a plate or piece having tapered projecting terminal portions 14 to engage with the interior projections '3 :of

the slats, is of a width to extend entirely through the slots and project from opposite sides of the slats, and is provided at its side edges with perforations 15, arranged at intervals and adapted to receivethe coils of spiral springs, similar to the eyes of the resilient hinge elements.

What is claimed is 1. A mat of the class described including spaced slats provided at their sides with series of eyes, and coiled springs having their coils passed through the individual eyes of the slats and hingedly connecting the slats to form a flexible mat.

2. A mat of the class described including spaced slats provided at their sides with series of eyes, and coiled springs having their coils passed through the individual eyes of the slats and hingedly connecting the latter to form a flexible mat, the coiled springs being alternately rightand left hand to cause the slats in turning on the coils to move alternately in opposite directions to prevent the mat from rolling up on a bias.

3. A mat of the class described including spaced slats provided with slots, hinge elements extending through the slots and having eyes projecting at opposite sides of the slats, and coiled springs interposed between the slats and having their coils passed through the individual eyes of the hinge elements. 7

4. A mat of the class described including spaced slats provided with slots and having concave grooves at their side faces, coiled springs interposed between the slats-and fitting in' the said grooves, and means carried by the slats and extending through the slots thereof and engaging the coils of the springs and coacting withthe same to flexi bly connect the slats.

5. A mat of the class described including opposite series of eyes, which are located at the sides of the slats, said hinge elements being resilient and frictionally engaging the end walls of the slots, whereby the hinge elements are retained in position while assembling the slats, and means for en aging the said eyes to hinge the slats toget or to form a flexible mat.

6. A mat of the class described including slats, hinge elements carried by the slats and constructed of wire bent back and forth to form opposite series of eyes, which are l0- cated at the sides of the slats, and coiled springs engaging the eyes of the hinge elements and connecting the slats to form a flexible mat.

7. A mat of the class described including spaced slats provided with slots and having interior projecting portions at the ends of the slots, resilient hinge elements extending through the slots and constructed of Wire as my own, I have hereto affixed. my signabgnt back an}? forth to form opposite serigls ture in the presence of two witnesses. o e es and aving terminal portions yie ably engaging the interior projecting por- THOMAS MCPHERSON 5 tions of the slats, and means for engaging Witnesses:

the eyes of the slats to connect the latter. EARL R. LEYDA, In testimony that I claim the foregoing A. R. LEYDA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

